Finance Specialist: Has commercial finance changed gear in 2026?

Julian Barnes takes the reins as the new host of Finance Specialist, joining Trent Carter to take stock of a year that has already shifted the commercial finance landscape. With business lending picking up as residential lending softens, the pair unpack the changing needs of SMEs, rising cash-flow pressures, tighter ATO settings, and what the latest bank results reveal about where lenders are putting their money. They also look at how brokers can move beyond rates and products to become deeper financial partners to their business clients – and why now could be the time to sharpen those commercial skills.